The Sonics are a garage rock band formed 1960 in Tacoma, Washington, United… Read Full Bio ↴The Sonics are a garage rock band formed 1960 in Tacoma, Washington, United States, the band's original members were Gerry Roslie (vocals, piano, organ), Larry Parypa (guitar), Andy Parypa (bass), Rob Lind (saxophone) and Bob Bennett (drums). The band's loud, powerful sound is often considered to be extremely influential on the later psychedelic and punk genres.

Forming in the wake of the early-'60s success of local favorites the Kingsmen and the Wailers (whose Etiquette label they recorded for), the Sonics combined classic Northwest-area teen band raunch with early English band grit (particularly influenced by the Kinks), relentless rhythmic drive, and unabashed '50s-style blues shouting for a combination that still makes their brand of rock & roll perhaps the raunchiest ever captured on wax.

Lead singer Gerry Roslie was no less than a white Little Richard, whose harrowing soul-screams were startling even to the Northwest teen audience, who liked their music powerful and driving with little regard to commercial subtleties. With hit after hit on the local charts (and influencing every local band that ever took the stage), the band inexplicably was never able to break out nationally, leaving its sound largely undiluted for mass consumption. Breaking up between 1966 and 1968 (after one ill-fated album attempt to water down their style for national attention), the Sonics continue today to be revered by '60s collectors the world over for their unique brand of rock & roll raunch.

In 2007, The Sonics reunited again, this time for the Cavestomp garage rock festival in Brooklyn (November 2-4, 2007). The line up featured original members Gerry Roslie on vocals/keyboards, Larry Parypa on guitar and Rob Lind on tenor sax; with Ricky Lynn Johnson (of The Wailers) on drums and Don Wilhelm (of The Daily Flash) on bass and vocals.

In 2008, The Sonics recorded a live session for Mark Lamarr's BBC Radio 2 show God's Jukebox on March 22. They played their first ever shows in London on Friday March 21 and Sunday March 23.

Since then, they have played the Primavera Festival in Barcelona, followed by Bilbao, then Belgium, Norway, and the Azkena Rock Festival in Vitoria in the Basque Country.

Their first show in their home region since their last Seattle reunion in 1972 was on Halloween 31 October 2008 at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle, where they were introduced and joined onstage for a couple numbers by Steven Van Zandt. Kent Morrill (front man of the Wailers) made a surprise appearance to help sing his signature song "Dirty Robber". Bob Bennett was also present to sit in on drums albeit only for a few songs and only while Ricky Lynn Johnson played in unison.

Do You Love Me
The Sonics Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You broke my heart 'cause I couldn't dance,
You didn't even want me around.
And now I'm back to let you know I can really shake 'em down.

Do you love me?
(I can really move, )
Do you love me?
(I'm in the groove.)

Now do you love me?
(Do you love me now that I can dance?)
Watch me, now.
(Work, work)
Ah,work it out baby.
(work, work)
Well, you're drivin' me crazy.
(work, work)
With just a little bit of soul, now
(work!)
Now I can mash potatoes, I can do the twist,
Tell me, baby, do you like it like this?
Tell me,
(Tell me,)
Tell me.

Do you love me?
(I can really move, )
Do you love me?
(I'm in the groove.)
Now do you love me?
(Do you love me now that I can dance?)
Watch me, now.
(Work, work)
Ah,work it out baby.
(work, work)
Well, you're drivin' me crazy.
(work, work)
With just a little bit of soul, now
(work!)
Now I can mash potatoes, I can do the twist,
Tell me, baby, do you like it like this?

Tell me,
(Tell me,)

Overall Meaning

In the Sonics' song "Do You Love Me," the lyrics tell a story of heartbreak and redemption through dance. The singer is speaking to someone who they used to be involved with romantically, but were rejected because of their lack of dancing skills. The singer is back to prove that they can indeed dance and be desirable, asking their former lover if they now love them because of this newfound ability. The lyrics describe the singer's confidence and energy on the dance floor, showcasing their new skills through the popular dance moves of the time, such as the twist and the mashed potato.

The song is significant because it captures the essence of the early 1960s, both in its musical style and its lyrics. This was a time when music and dance were emerging as a powerful force in popular culture, and the song reflects the excitement and energy of this time period. The lyrics are straightforward and relatable, capturing the universal desire for acceptance and love. The Sonics' style was heavily influenced by rock and roll and R&B, and the song's infectious beat and driving rhythm create a sense of urgency and excitement.

Line by Line Meaning

You broke my heart 'cause I couldn't dance,
You left me because I didn't know how to dance, and it broke my heart.

You didn't even want me around.
You didn't even want me near you after that happened.

And now I'm back to let you know I can really shake 'em down.
But now I'm back to show you that I've learned how to dance and I'm really good at it.

Do you love me?
Now that I can dance, do you love me?

(I can really move, )
(I can dance really well now,)

Do you love me?
Tell me, do you love me?

(I'm in the groove.)
(I'm really feeling the music now.)

Now do you love me?
So, do you love me now that I can dance?

(Do you love me now that I can dance?)
(Now that I can dance, do you love me?)

Watch me, now.
Now watch me dance.

(Work, work)
(I'm really putting effort into this dance.)